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District 833 School Board finalizes open seat appointment process

District 833 School Board members plan to use a blind review process to pick up to six candidates to interview for an open seat on the board.

South Washington County School Board member Jim Gelbmann is stepping down mid-term at the end of June. The board is going to appoint a new member to complete his term, which expires in December 2015.

The application period opened May 19 and closes Friday, May 30.

Board members decided last week that candidates’ names will be redacted from application information they review when deciding whom to interview. They said that will put the focus on the candidates’ experience and credentials, rather than whether they are known to the board members.

Board members will review the applicants’ resumes and letters of interest between May 30 and June 5. They won’t know candidate names during that process. They will screen the applicants based on whether they meet 13 criteria that range from knowledge of school finances to previous educational or community involvement. Six will be selected for interviews Thursday, June 12.

That’s presuming more than six people apply for the open seat. If only six or fewer people apply, all will be interviewed, School Board Chair Ron Kath said.

At the public interviews June 12, the candidates will be asked two questions published in advance and another three questions provided during the interview.

Kath said board members will take votes after the interviews to narrow the field to the preferred candidate, who will be sworn into office in July.

Application information and materials are available on the District 833 website.